Temporary wall construction



R. H. NElsEwANbER TEMPORARY WALL CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 9. 1962 UnitedStates Patent O 3,195,191 TEMPGRARY WALL CGNSTRUCTION Ray H.Neisewander, 101i) E. Edwards St., Springfield, Ill. Filed Feb. 9, 1962,Ser. No. 172,204 7 Claims. (Cl. Ztl-4) This invention relates totemporary wall construction, and more specilically, to a mountable andremovable wall partition particularly suitable for use in restaurants,hotels, hospitals and the like.

While temporary wall partitions are not new, prior structures have beengenerally unsatisfactory and at best have achieved only very limiteduse. Earlier partition structures have usually been difficult and timeconsuming to install and remove. Also, special permanent littings havebeen required for their installation and, even with the use of suchttings, a secure and tight connection between ceilings and floors hasoften been lacking.

Accordingly, it is an important object of the present inyention toprovide a temporary wall partition which ove-rcomes the defects anddisadvantages of prior structures. Specifically, it is an object toprovide a partition which may be easily and quickly installed andremoved. A further object is to provide a temporary wall partition whichmay be installed any place in a room where the floor and ceiling aresubstantially parallel and which will provide a secure and tightconnection despite slight deviations from that parallel relationship.

Other objects will appear from the speciiication and drawings in which:

FIGURE l is a broken side elevational view taken partly in section andshowing a partition embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged broken vertical section of the partition (and aportion of a grooved ceiling) taken along line 2 2 of FIGURE I;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the cam means for adjustingtension of the partition when it is installed;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary side elevational View similar to the upperportion of FIGURE 1 but illustrating action of the tension equalizationbar when the door and ceiling are not parallel.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, thenumeral generally designates a temporary partition having an inner frame11 and outer covering lpanels 12 and 13. The frame consists essentiallyof upper and lower rails 14 and 15, vertical stiles 16, and an internalhorizontal rail 17. The internal rail 17 provides large side surfaces inengagement Wtih the inner surfaces of panels 12 and I3 and, as shown inFIGURE l, is spaced above and below the lower and upper rails and 14respectively.

FIGURE 2 indicates that the side panels 12 and 13 are formed fromplywood although it is to be understood that other sheet materials suchas metal sheeting, composition board, fiberglass sheeting and plasticsheet materials might be used. It will be noted that the side panelsproject well above the top of rail 14 and dene therebetween a channel 18for slidably receiving a vertically extendable and retractable loadequalization bar or member 19.

The horizontally elongated load equalization bar 19 is of substantiallythe same length as rail 14 and, except for its upper longitudinal edgeportion, is almost entirely concealed by the upper extensions of sidepanels 12 and 13. When the bar is formed -of wood, as in theillustration given, its sides may be veneered to provide smooth verticalsurfaces engageable with the inner surfaces of the side panels and toimprove the strength and appearance of the bar. Along the top of the baris a longitudinal groove 20 which carries an elongated cushion element21.

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The cushion element my be formed from rubber or any other resilient andelastic material and, as shown in FIG- URE 2, projects above the top ofthe bar to make contact with a ceiling 22.

The bar 19 is supported intermediate its end upon a vertical push rod23. Referring to FIGURES l, 2 and 4, it will be observed that the upperend of the push rod is received within a centrally-disposed socket 24along the undersidevof the load equalization bar and that the horizontaldimensions of the socket are slightly greater than the cross sectionaldimensions of the rod. In other words, the bar 19 lits loosely upon theupper end of rod 23 and is capable of limited tipping -or rockingmovement upon the rods upper end. Retention springs 25 extend verticallybetween the bar 19 and top rail 14 at opposite ends of the respectiveparts and perform the dual functions of retaining the bar within channel18 and of maintaining the bar in horizontal position (spaced uniformlyfrom rail 14) in the absence of tipping forces.

The push rod 23 is slidably sheathed in a guide tube 26 which extendsthrough rail 14 and into inner rail 17. If desired, the tube may beencased within a reinforcing verticalV member 27 which bridges the spacebetween the upper and inner rails.

The upward force exerted upon the push rod 23 is controlled by cam 28and compression spring 29. As shown in FIGURES 1 and 3, the cam isdisposed within a recess 36 provided in the inner rail 17 and is mountedfor rotational movement in a vertical plane upon a horizontal spindle31. The spindle is journaled in side panels 12 and 13 and itsexternally-exposed ends are shaped so that it may be rotated by asuitable tool. In the illustration given, the ends of the spindle areprovided with hexagonal recesses 32 to permit the insertion of an Allenwrench therein.

The cam surface 33 is of gradually increasing radius and is providedwith a series of indentations adapted to receive the roller 34 of a camrider 35. The rider is provided with an upstanding portion 36 slidablyreceived within the guide tube 26 and the compression spring 29 extendsbetween the upper end of the rider and the lower end of the push rod.Thus, as the rider is urged upwardly upon clockwise rotation of the cam(when viewed as in FIGURES 1 and 3), an upward force .is transmitted tothe push rod and load equalization bar by the compression spring 29. Thestrength of the spring and the resiliency of the cushion 21 control themaximum amount of force which may be exerted by the bar against aceiling upon rotation of cam 2S. It is to be understood that thestrength of the spring may be selected to prevent ceiling damage evenunder maximum compressive force. In certain cases, as where a ceilinghas been reinforced to withstand substantially greater upward force,spring 29 may be omitted and the push rod 23 may be connected directlyto the cam rider.

The tiltable mounting of the load equalization bar also contributessigniticantly in providing a secure mounting of the partition. Asindicated above, the bar is selfadjustable and will tip within itschannel to exert a uniform upward force along the bars full length inthose instances where a floor and ceiling are not precisely parallel. Byproviding a large area of substantially uniform surface contact, theequalization bar will hold the partition firmly in place without thedanger of ceiling damage even though the same force if localized orunequalized might cause cracking of other ceiling damage.

In the illustration given, the ceiling 22 is shown with a recess 37 forreceiving the upper portion of the equalization bar. Where such a recessis used, the upper edges of the bar may be beveled as shown at '3S (FIG-URE 2). However, it is to be understood that a ceiling recess isunnecessary and that a secure mounting of the partition may be obtainedby engagement with a flat ceilingV be understood that, if desired, thetelescoping relationship may be reversed and that the bar may tit overand slide upon (rather than between) the panels. Also, the equalizationbar (and its associated elements) may be oriented vertically rather thanhorizontally, thereby providing a partitionwhich is capable of expandinglaterally and being anchored between iixed side walls.

While in the foregoing I have disclosedv an embodiment of the inventionin considerable detail for purposes of illustration, it will beunderstood by those skilled in the art, that many of these details maybe varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim 1.V In a temporary wall partition having an inner frame and sidepanels secured-thereto, a single vertical push rod slidably carried bysaid frame and projecting upwardly therethrough, a horizontal loadequalization bar extending along the top of said frameand supportedsubstantially equidistant its ends upon the upper end of said rod forlimited tipping movement thereon, aV cam rotatably mountedI within saidpartition, an ,ups-tanding rider venupwardly and slidable verticallythrough the central portion of said frame substantially equidistantbetween the vertical ends of said partition, a substantially horizontalload equalization bar extendingalong the top of said frame and supportedsubstantially equidistant its ends upon the upper end of said rod, saidbar being mounted for limited longitudinal tipping movement upon saidrod, and Ymeans within said partition for urging said rod upwardly toforce said bar against a ceiling.

6. The structure of claimS in which tension springs are secured to saidframe and said bar adjacent opposite vertical ends of said partition andsubstantially equidistant l from said'rod, said springs exertingsubstantially uniform forces at opposite ends of said bar toV urge thesame downwardly into firm contact with said rod and to maintain said barin substantially horizontal condition in the absence of tipping forces.

7. A temporary wall partition comprising a rigid inner frame'adapted torest upon a oor surface, side panels secured to said frame, a singlevertical push rod slidably mounted withinV said frame and projectingupwardly thereabove, a substantially horizontal load equalization barextending along the top of said frame, said bar being provided with adownwardly facing socket located subgagingsaid cam and movable intodifferent vertical positions as said cam is rotated, said riderbeingdisposed beneath said push rod, and a compression spring disposedbetween the lower end of said push rod and the upper end of said rider.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which said bar is provided intermediateits ends with a downwardly opening socket of greaterv cross sectionaldimensions than the ot said rod beingV -a `cam surface of Vprogressivelyincreasing radius, said cam surface having a series of indentations, andsaid rider providing a roller adapted to seat in said identations.

y 5. In aY temporary wall partition having a rigid inner frame adaptedto rest upon Va floor surface and having side panels concealingsaidframe and secured to opposite sides thereof, a'single vertical push rodprojecting stantially equidistant from the ends of said bar and looselyreceiving the upper endof said rod, and means within said partitionforurging said rod upwardly to force saidv bar against a ceiling, said loadequalization bar being supported uponthe' upper end of said rod forlimited longitudinal tipping movement thereon, whereby, as said rod isvurged upwardly the force applied by said bar Vagainst a ceilingisequalized along the entire length thereof.

. References Citedby the Examiner v UNITEDV STATES PATENTS 1,752,4724/730 whitney V 248-354 X 1,758,489 5,/30l Wheat 20-4 2,107,624 2/38VBerger 20-4 2,443,548 6/48 Wilson? '20-4 2,947,041' 8/6() Imbrecht Y20-4 FOREIGN PATENTS -1,178,632 12/58 France.V

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM S. MUSHAKE, JACOB L. NACKENOFF, Examiners.

5. IN A TEMPORARY WALL PARTITION HAVING A RIGID INNER FRAME ADAPTED TOREST UPON A FLOOR SURFACE AND HAVING SIDE PANELS CONCEALING SAID FRAMEAND SECURED TO OPPOSITE SIDES THEREOF, A SINGLE VERTICAL PUSH RODPROJECTING UPWARDLY AND SLIDABLE VERTICALLY THROUGH THE CENTRAL PORTIONOF SAID FRAME SUBSTANTIALLY EQUIDISTANT BETWEEN THE VERTICAL ENDS OFSAID PARTITION, A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL LOAD EQUALIZATION BAREXTENDING ALONG THE TOP OF SAID FRAME AND SUPPORTED SUBSTANTIALLYEQUIDISTANT ITS ENDS UPON THE UPPER END OF SAID ROD, SAID BAR BEINGMOUNTED FOR LIMITED LONGITUDINAL TIPPING MOVEMENT UPON SAID ROD, ANDMEANS WITHIN SAID PARTITION FOR URGING SAID ROD UPWARDLY TO FORCE SAIDBAR AGAINST A CEILING.